Troubled group home FamiliesFirst delays hearing, stays open for now

Operators of a Davis children’s group home connected to the alleged rape of an 11-year-old girl will not have to face a judge for another nine months, and will be allowed to continue operating for at least one more year.

The group home, EMQ FamiliesFirst, has been under fire since early June, when Davis police investigated the alleged rape of the 11-year-old, along with other alleged sexual assaults by and of kids who live at the facility.

The state’s Department of Social Services is trying to revoke the facility’s license, but the rules of an appeals process allow FamiliesFirst to stay open until a judge makes a decision, which will be next summer, at the earliest.

An administrative law judge has set a hearing for July 18, 2014, and a prehearing – when the facility and the state could come to a settlement – for April 4, 2014.

Children’s advocates were surprised to learn Wednesday that the facility can remain open and that its operators won’t have to face a judge for nearly a year after the state began the process to revoke its license.

Typically, a judge could hear such a case within 90 days from the time the state files it. In this case, FamiliesFirst waived time, or its right to a speedier proceeding, said FamiliesFirst spokeswoman Kristine Austin.

“Everybody wants to make sure that the right thing is happening for the children,” Austin said. “Everyone wants to make sure the children are safe.”

Police said at the time of the investigation of the alleged rape that they had received more than 500 calls for service involving the home since the beginning of this year.

At that time, the facility was serving more than 60 children. That number later dwindled to fewer than 20, as counties who contract with FamiliesFirst pulled children out of the home.

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